In Shock

My Journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope

By: Dr. Rana Awdish

Narrated by: Dr. Rana Awdish, Teri Schnaubelt

In Shock is a riveting first-hand account from a young critical care physician, who in the passage of a moment is transfigured into a dying patient. This transposition, coincidentally timed at the end of her medical training, instantly lays bare the vast chasm between the conventional practice of medicine and the stark reality of the prostrate patient.

Hauntingly perceptive and beautifully written, it allows the listener to transform alongside her, and watch what she discovers in our carefully cultivated, yet often misguided standard of care. The author demonstrates through engaging narrative and laser-sharp wit how the unbearable is borne. She comes to understand the fatal flaws in her profession and in her own past actions as a physician. She also achieves, through unflinching presence, a crystalline vision of a new and better possibility.

Using her exceptional recall, Awdish fashions an elegant, yet urgent call to action. As she finds herself up against the same self-protective partitions she was trained to construct as a medical student and physician, she artfully illuminates the dysfunction of disconnection. Shatteringly personal, and yet wholly universal, she offers a brave roadmap for anyone navigating illness. At the same time, she presents physicians with a new paradigm and rationale for embracing the emotional bond between doctor and patient. All told, she cogently outlines the redemptive possibilities of dismantling the barriers to connection in all relationships.

©2017 Rana Awdish (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Published by arrangement with St. Martin's Press.

great book

A wonderful book with great insights. brought so much hope into my daily commute to work

Interesting

Enjoyed this. but not my favorite as well. The performance changed things for me. I did enjoy the doctor patient viewpoint.

As a doctor myself, I cried.

As an OB/Gyn, this was such a moving story. I cried several times. We are having a book club on this book with several of our med students and residents. The paid narrator pronounced FASCIA wrong a few times which was amusing. But Dr. Awdish brings an important light on empathy, compassion, and how we communicate as healthcare providers with our patients. This is a must-read for everyone in the medical community.

Thought Provoking

Excellent book that I hope anyone in healthcare reads. Dr. Awdish's experience and her ability to put it into purpose in creating new education for practitioners to impact healthcare is fantastic. She brings back the much-needed focus on empathy, the patient experience, but also of teaching, allowing and expecting healthcare providers to be emotionally available during care. I loved this book and recommend it highly.

A Long and Winding Road

This long, painful, difficult, winding, circuitous route to recovery was a challenge to endure. It is a compelling and fascinating book, but the perilous treatments that the author had to undergo to regain her health was grueling even to listen to. As suggested in one review I read, this book should be mandatory reading for any and all medical students BEFORE they are granted a license to practice medicine. As a patient, this book is enlightening as to the pitfalls that await you with many doctors who may or may NOT have your best interests at heart. Or even if they do, they can be overwhelmed by the demands of their profession, the insurance industry, their own family and their sleep-deprived body. It inspires the reader to always seek a second opinion or third if a medical diagnosis just doesn't fit with how you are feeling, or what your instincts are trying to tell you. Do not allow your intuition to be automatically dismissed by a doctor or family member as an over-reaction or denial. Check with another practitioner. Find one that will work with you, whatever your need is.

Excellent!

Very moving and insightful story on both a personal, and professional level. As a Healthcare provider, there was much I could take away from this for the benefit of others - thank you!

A must read for anyone in the medical field.

This was harrowing to listen to. Anyone that works or has worked in the medical field would benefit (as would our patients) from reading/listening this book. This reminded me of working in the ICU as a Resident and the desperate attempts to "not get emotional", because somehow that meant you were a better doctor? This was a wonderful and fast listen because you just cannot shut it off.

For everyone, best book in a long time!

we are all connected to healthcare in some way, and there are important lessons in that respect, but there are so many applications to life in this - it's one of those perspective-altering books that make you want to be a better human and affect the world in a positive way. couldn't stop listening, this was fantastic!

Incredible!!

I've read and listened to many physician memoirs, books on specialties, physician as patient, you name it. This book was spectacular!! It hit on so many important parts of medicine, life as a doctor, living and dying as a patient. Dr. Awdish went through the unthinkable that happens everyday somewhere in the country. It might not happen to a doctor but it happens to someone. Patient's concerns are brushed off all the time. They are belittled and made to feel insignificant. Treated like a number and not a human being. It's when someone important, more important than the average person, has had a trauma in a hospital that things might be able to change. I am glad the author is as strong as she is and able to work toward making change happen. Having seminars and lectures on communication. Finding an outlet for doctors to regroup after a trauma at work. There is so much that needs to change. When she was ignored by the doctor when she had sepsis it reminded me of the doctor who ignored my pulmonary embolism. Women in particular are at high risk of being ignored especially. Too many people are dying and it must change!! Good work Dr. Awdish!!

Brilliant

Absolutely brilliant and very enlightening. Inspired me to make a handful of changes to my own practice that have been very well received by patients & families. Thank you Dr. Awdish for sharing your experiences and thank you the work you are doing to change the culture of medicine!